Yogi govt's efforts give new impetus to quality, digital

governance, research, employment-oriented education, and student welfare in

higher education

Lucknow, 27 July (HS): A high-level education committee of

the Haryana Assembly arrived in Lucknow on Monday to study Uttar Pradesh's

higher education system, academic quality, infrastructure facilities, and

innovations in the education sector. The committee met with officials from the

Higher Education Department, including Special Secretary Higher Education Nidhi

Srivastava, in the Assembly hall to learn about the extensive reforms and

innovations being undertaken in the state's higher education sector. The

Chairperson of the Haryana Assembly's Education Committee, Laxman Singh Yadav,

along with other committee members and officials, were present at the meeting.

During the meeting, information was presented to the

committee regarding the reforms being undertaken by the Yogi government in the

field of higher education in Uttar Pradesh, the expansion of quality education,

digital systems, promotion of research and innovation, and various schemes

being run for students. The Haryana Assembly committee praised these efforts in

the field of higher education in Uttar Pradesh, describing the state's systems and

innovations as significant and useful.

The meeting was informed that currently, Uttar Pradesh has

24 state universities, 56 private universities, one deemed university, and one

open university, along with 216 government colleges, 330 aided non-government

colleges, and 7,526 self-financed colleges. A total of 1,349 posts for

principals, assistant professors, librarians, and third-class employees have

been created in the 71 new government colleges established in the state.

Admissions and teaching have already commenced in 46 of these colleges from the

academic session 2025-26.

To enhance the quality of higher education and improve

administrative control in colleges, regional higher education officer offices

have been established in all divisions of the state. Additionally, to ensure

the quality of higher education, a State Level Quality Assurance Cell (SLQAC)

has been formed and made fully active. In line with the goals of the National

Education Policy-2020, Choice Based Credit System, Multiple Entry-Exit System,

and employment-oriented vocational value-added courses are being offered in the

state's universities and colleges.

Significant steps have also been taken in the state towards

digital governance. File management in the Directorate of Higher Education,

Prayagraj, is being done through e-office. Furthermore, the 'Samarth' portal

has been implemented in all state and private universities in the state from

the academic session 2024-25, and the student admission process is also being

conducted through the Samarth portal from the session 2025-26. The complete

service details of teachers and non-teaching staff have been uploaded on the

Manav Sampada portal.

The Yogi government has also launched the Chief Minister's

Cashless Medical Scheme for teachers associated with higher education and their

dependents. Under this scheme, approximately 7.5 lakh people, including 1.28

lakh teachers from state and private universities, aided and self-financed

colleges, and their dependents, are being provided free medical treatment. In

addition, efforts are underway to benefit non-teaching staff and their

dependents from the scheme.

To technically empower students in the state, free

smartphones and tablets are being distributed to students studying in higher

education institutions under the Swami Vivekananda Youth Empowerment Scheme. To

promote research and innovation, a provision of Rs 500 lakh has been made under

the Research and Development scheme in 2026-27. A provision of Rs 13.60 crore

has also been made for the development of basic facilities in government

colleges.

Special emphasis was also placed on employment-oriented

education and skill development for students during the meeting. Under the

Chief Minister's Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, a monthly incentive of Rs

1,000 has been provided to eligible students studying in higher education

institutions to make them proficient in technical work. Additionally, important

initiatives such as the Chief Minister Vidya Lakshmi Scheme to help meritorious

students continue their higher education, the Rani Lakshmi Bai Scooty Scheme to

provide free electric scooters to eligible female students, and the Chief

Minister's Indian Knowledge System Global Excellence Fund to give global

recognition to the Indian knowledge tradition are also being undertaken.

Officials from the Higher Education Department stated that

processes for appointment and selection are also being expedited to increase

the availability of teachers in the state. Online postings have been made for

840 selected lecturer positions in government colleges, while requisitions for

1,253 positions have been sent to the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission.

Appointments of principals and lecturers have also been made in aided colleges,

and the selection process for various positions is ongoing.

The high-level committee of the Haryana Assembly praised

these reforms, the use of digital technology, quality education, research and

innovation, infrastructure development, and student welfare schemes in the

field of higher education in Uttar Pradesh. The committee members stated that

Uttar Pradesh's efforts in the field of higher education are useful and

exemplary for other states as well.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi